The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-03-24
MAJOR LAIRD,
OF Nebraska, Speaks Pungcnt Words
TO Gen. Bragg.


and elooueut advocates of the claims of the
soldiers, prepared a ringing speech on the
Presidents veto Of the Dependent Pension
Bill. which he intended TO deliver, but the
time was so limited that he was allowed bat
two minutes The speech is rs follows:
Mn SPr,KrR. would not seek 10 impose myself
upon this dcalC fora moment were itno that ieelh
my duty 10 respectfully protest against a certain
self-righteous spirit which peneliftSs an9 S So.oIs
the messages Of the President Of the United states
iu his yctocs of public and private pension bhls'
And this pcuicious assumption oi pubic virtue y
not confined to the Executive but " found in the
utterances of thc advocates ana delenaefs ol his
policy this foor-And particularly y That censo-
rious quality present IN the relhrks a Tue Eehlie
man from "a i.cpn-in Ma. Bragg To tue Eentie-
man from Wisconsin. allow me Ia remark, That ne
j. peculiarly unhappy when he chaiaclcIlIes Ale
benchciarics oi tins hih
A. yAGABONDs,
aud impuies 10 those who support il no higher
motive than the prostitution OF their great places
10 a possible political advantage. belone, sli'
aNcepi In misfortune, the class lac cllaraclerlzcs
as vagHbouds and for them. some oi whom no
doubt were the pillars of his lame, hs wen as
the stay of the imperilled State-ior them, ar Tor
myself J desire to resent the impuiaiion upon our
common honor, lily concealed under the el,lihcl
'Vapaboud ln the one instance, aud the insnua-
tion Of a bougllt-and-sod vote IA the other. For
Que dcnouucc ilis statement as false.
To avoid personal alterations on thc subject
will for mysrf admit that tlle gentleman from Vas
cOnsin WAS $40; only a good soldier. oul tue ohiy
IN Tie MWr-lraNef IMAM aAllns At-al hilA ehls
a triae less magnanmous than Agamennon.
The gentleman very property
ABsoRns ALL THE GLORY,
all the honor 10 himself lie is the "chieiest
among three millions and the one altogether love
ly." lie IL, 10 the achievements oil the war,
much la The condition Of the cook of the Nancy
Brig a. described la the Bad Ballads, alter TIE
cook had eaton all the officers aud crew OF THAI III
fated ship The couplct runs thus:
"Oh. I'm the cook and the Captain bold,
And fRp untp of tllP Nancy ltrlg.
Aud tie Bo'sen tight and the Midshipmte,
And the crew Of the Captains gig"
The position of the gentleman from Wisconsin
lAir Bragg b. that the beneiciarics OF thls bli are
Vap7lbonds aud thit during the war they were the
dog robbers "deadbeats" >" aud camp follow
ers of the earny-generally pack Oi snealSs ana
oowards How DO YOU know il? The only pred-
cate you furnish for the conclusion Is your hsser-
tion, aud that of the vRaEt gentleman from ONO
Mr. Warner that the bcnelciarles OF the bl are
paupers that they poor. j admit that they are
poor; bat cannot brave man be poor?
ARE THE POOR ALL cowARDs
and the rich all brave? You are not reputod TO
roll ia riches; you therefore q Nagabond now,
aud were yuu a coward and n deadbcht IN the war
Lei us be logical, and we shall be just
Tried sy this unfortunate logic both you and
your valiant Slucho from Ohio would be reduced
10 tie pieous level OF the uoE robbers, deadbeats
and snealls Nlu are TO be the hcDotciaIies OF this
bill But this cannot be true; for does not all the
world know that YOU two, you glorious two: were
the saul aud Jonathan Of the war? DO not the his
tories swell aud burst with the burden of your
fame? DO not your speeches, that give your deeds
90 immortality go on forever?
You have given your old comrades your opinion
OF them aud of yourself What do you suppose
they think Of you? What do YOU suppose those
OF the Revolution thought of Arnold? What an
swer could you make u they asked you now what
reward you were 20 have Tor botIaying them in
this their dire distress?
ccive a. n retainer 10 defend this dictator who de-
claims 10 yoHr empty -bellied comrades about pa
triotism9 IIoW hiave he il now aud how cow
- d fltarsI I.ur lnp9Rn
dues. How changed. A Few years ago you led
these 10 battle; aud him, yonlashed him. leavening
liis submissive lump with The leaven OF your fan
tastic curses.
BIT WHAT Is YOUR FEE?
What Judgosp are You 10 have? j. your COM
mission made ulu? Tell us, Immortal man. for
what official crown have YOU sold your manhood
and the rights nf these. the rank and file, the bed
rock of thc Nations honor-hcr stay ln peace aud
war thc stern. steudfast watchers over her destiny
true thc great star in the North D. true and a.
free from the mutations Of vanity, sellishness or
ambition it: rebnl1ing with their humble de-
Notlon l tIc Narlabcness and turning oi those who
under ihe name Oi country, worship themselves
Why do you desert them now; liey never de
serted their country or yon2 Can you point 10 q
single mnn of all the beneiciaries OF this ACT that
SO your knowledge ever deserted flag or country
lsthere one 81 ie old Iron Brigade. which is to-day
your own and your conntrs's pride, who wiz be
benefited hy ih- bin, tbHt YOU viii permit TO bt
called sneak and n coward? Not one. And yet
remember % day "a North Anna. when a brigade Ia
which served took a place upon that field which
YOUR IRON BRIGADE DECLINED,
and not only held H. but beat the rebel devi
back, capturing Jones and nearly las whole bri
gade. And kuoWiug these men as l knew them
on al the h,lds from Yorktown TO AppomattoE
resent thc insult you put upon the very men yoi
commanded, aud who justly won the name Of th
Iron Brigade ] resent II IN the name OF the 5000
veterans 81 Ncbiaskn-in the name oi the Grant
Army OF the Republic everywhere. resent ii, no
only lu tle nHlnc oi lhc hflllioh survivors oi th
Wal, but also ln the name OF Tie hali million O
dead gathered in The cemeteries Of the Nation
where upon the miles of headsoncs j read th
refutRiion oi ihis outrageous slander.
b But these men are poor ah yes, poor IN th
wealth which tbc Assessor sccs thc tax gathere
takes. or thai goes 60 satisiy the Sherih7s wrii
But they rich with another wealtll-the wealt
of thc memory of deeds done Nation saved; q
men made free flag washed with bloa4, Re
public oi lHIiiiE States welded To uhll IA lle re-
heat 81 war - The gigantic blows oi battle Poor
yes; fOr while others, deaf TO the loud call 10 arm'
powed thc field sowed the grain and
GATHERED THE GOLDEN HARVEST,
fattening upon tlie bloody infirmites Of the Tins
these men poWgd another field and sowed aI
other seed i.ud gathered an immortal harvest.
They fought not iOi golden fees, or civic crowns
OF offices, or trusts the chance aims Of Co
crnmeul Whose very life was Ia their hands The
1ougii ioi a country. Tor q cause, Tor socriy-t
god 0f our idol ury-and now that u Is done LET n
man. forgctfu Of their iaDe, which thundeTs Q
forever, seek 20 quiet their great score, wit
Friend you are Troublesome" Let no while
cumming Al illc beck Of power and suHpping do
like nt the hcci, uf hero, while lac cks the han
from thc true issue which Is. whether this Natio
will make thu-c National care who saved II,
whether ID viii slnrk IL duty aud throw the ca
oi these mcn upon thc already Ovclburdened nll
nicipRliies
Mr Speaker pcrTnit me one parting shot at the
Generals who hold unfortunate an opinion
these soldiers who 10 bc the bccficlarlcs und
this bin. hc gentleman from Wisconsin III
called thcsc mon cowHds Encaks, deadbents ~
other uHasEnrtcd names. lie mndC no cNCeII ion
iie Was a general officer who served through q
war hnd made good record. Herein you q
your duty
] HONOR YOU FOR 1T,
and NO do obey D. IL not 10 Doe presumed. In the a
Hence Of proof that the men you Hs-ail did q
came? And Il; thcy did net, is b. moi Hs much q
fault Of thc officers, who should have led them,
of tlIc men"
You spenL from the standpoint Of "A general OF
Ger Iet mc answer you from the standpoint Of
common soldier who served Wlth las regiment
every action when not wounded. Did YOU ~
envy private soldier his place at the cannoi
mouth at thC breach; in ths hnndto-huHd 90
balg SomC 81 these men you asstil cowHr
McrC no duuDl lu tlie charge on JacAson's Corr
stationed n tine suHlzcn road. the :g0h
August, ls6-. at the Second bull Run, whe
over hall 81 iIc regiment az (which j served
ln 10 miuuir--lah Ia 10 minutes. j do 0
know what thc others can say. bat for my oN
part wac not crowded ont 81 MY place in a
iDrlsIn hopc bg amy b. iigHdicr General. nor d
believe amy - iicse towards You speak Of were
crowded. Tho -iurE that day were iu eclipse mi
Rceriain hour. aud then they led thc fOrloIn hopt
10 tie TrtF. some oi these meu were at Anicta
nO doubt. aud cun verify my statement, that vii
came 60 cross tlat bridge through sheets Of ID
Hud bolts oi Aluu. tIg head Of the HssAultlng q
not composed u ErigadlCTs Mai
Generals either.
TO my personal izuoWldgc a number Of tic nj
who would be- bcncliled by this bill II pass
were an Grtfvelurg aud received thc dcspcr
- Ha.. Ifar afsr e l.sl 4.